The union has demanded that the minimum wages for the unskilled category be revised to Rs 600 per day, semiskilled category to Rs 650 per day, skilled Rs 700 and highly skilled Rs 750 per day.
AITUC said they have sent a memorandum to the state government, secretary labour and commissioner of labour on Tuesday demanding revision of minimum wages within one month.
AITUC said that the Goa government should immediately write to the Union Labour ministry to notify the State of Goa in ‘B’ category instead of ‘C’ category for implementation of minimum wages for all schedules of employment which fall within the central government’s jurisdiction.
AITUC threatened that if the government failed to satisfy the working class and daily wage workers within a month they will intensify the agitation and may even call for a bandh.
“Right now we have not decided. Based on the government’s approach on the issue we may be forced to do that,” AITUC general secretary Christopher Fonseca said.
AITUC held a demonstration in front of the labour commissioner’s office at Patto-Panjim on Tuesday demanding an immediate revision of minimum wages of all schedules of employment, including daily wage workers, employed in government departments in Goa with a linkage to the dearness allowance.
The speakers insisted upon the revision of minimum wages immediately by taking into consideration the guidelines laid down under the Minimum Wages Act and tripartite body of the Indian labour conference.
The government has so far failed to consider what the wages in the informal sector in Goa are and also to consider that the All India Consumer prices index has increased by 1800 points, Suhas Naik, union leader said.
